# Sign Regulations in Maple Shade Township, New Jersey

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Maple Shade Township, New Jersey, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Maple Shade Township, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/maple-shade-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/6929441#6929441)

## At a glance

Maple Shade Township, New Jersey regulates 23 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Option 1)s in the Downtown Business District zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 16 sq ft, with a 15 ft from street, 5 ft from property line, 10 ft from any building setback (Sec. § 205-66.2B(2)(f)). Most commercial signs in Maple Shade Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |
| Residential zones | 2 | — | 1 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Business District | 12 | 5 ft | 40 sq ft max | — |
| General Commercial District | 12 | 5 ft | 40 sq ft max | — |
| Business Development District | 10 | 25 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Planned Development District | 7 | 20 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Highway Commercial District | 9 | 20 ft | 50 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Downtown Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Facade Sign (Primary Entrance) | — | 40 sq ft max | — | — | Up to 4 signs at primary entrance | Primary entrance facade | — | § 205-66.2B(2)(a), (2)(c) |
| Perpendicular Sign (Primary Entrance) | — | — | Extends outward max 3 ft; lowest section at least 8 ft above sidewalk | — | Included in total up to 4 | Primary entrance, perpendicular to building | — | § 205-66.2B(2)(b) |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | — | — | May extend max 6 ft outward from building | — | — | Over doors/windows | — | § 205-66.2B(2)(d) |
| Decorative Flag (No Advertising) | — | — | May not extend more than 4 ft from facade; lowest point at least 7 ft above ground | — | 1 | Facade | — | § 205-66.2B(2)(e) |
| Freestanding Sign (Option 1) | 5 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 15 ft from street, 5 ft from property line, 10 ft from any building | 1 | At least 15 ft from street, 5 ft from property line, 10 ft from any building | — | § 205-66.2B(2)(f) |
| Window Sign (Primary Entrance) | — | — | — | — | 1 per 5 linear ft of facade | Windows (primary entrance facade) | — | § 205-66.2B(2)(g) |
| Facade Sign (Secondary Entrance) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per secondary entrance | Flat against building at secondary entrance | — | § 205-66.2B(3)(a) |
| Facade Sign (Businesses Fronting Two Streets) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On side of building not containing main entrance | — | § 205-66.2B(4) |

### General Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Facade Sign (Primary Entrance) | — | 40 sq ft max | — | — | Up to 4 | Primary entrance facade | — | § 205-66.2C(1), refers to 66.2B(2)(a), (c) |
| Perpendicular Sign (Primary Entrance) | — | — | Extends outward max 3 ft; lowest section at least 8 ft above sidewalk | — | Included in up to 4 | Primary entrance, perpendicular to building | — | § 205-66.2C(1), 66.2B(2)(b) |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | — | — | May extend max 6 ft outward from building | — | — | Over doors/windows | — | § 205-66.2C(1), 66.2B(2)(d) |
| Decorative Flag (No Advertising) | — | — | May not extend more than 4 ft from facade; lowest point at least 7 ft above ground | — | 1 | Facade | — | § 205-66.2C(1), 66.2B(2)(e) |
| Freestanding Sign (Option 1) | 5 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 15 ft from street, 5 ft from property line, 10 ft from any building | 1 | At least 15 ft from street, 5 ft from property line, 10 ft from any building | — | § 205-66.2C(1), 66.2B(2)(f) |
| Window Sign (Primary Entrance) | — | — | — | — | 1 per 5 linear ft | Windows (primary entrance facade) | — | § 205-66.2C(1), 66.2B(2)(g) |
| Facade Sign (Secondary Entrance) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per secondary entrance | Flat against building at secondary entrance | — | § 205-66.2C(1), 66.2B(3)(a) |
| Facade Sign (Businesses Fronting Two Streets) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On side of building not containing main entrance | — | § 205-66.2C(1), 66.2B(4) |

### Business Development District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Facade Sign (One Business per Lot) | — | — | — | — | Up to 4; plus one on wall fronting other street if exists | Wall at main entrance or any wall fronting a street | — | § 205-66.2D(1)(a)[1], [4] |
| Entrance Identification Sign (Flush at Main Entrance) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Flush against building at main entrance | — | § 205-66.2D(1)(a)[2], [2][a],[2][b] |
| Freestanding Sign (One Business per Lot) | 20 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Yard area relating to principal structure | — | § 205-66.2D(1)(a)[3] |
| Facade Sign (Multiple Businesses per Lot) | — | — | — | — | 1 per use | On building facade at main entrance or any wall fronting a street | — | § 205-66.2D(1)(b)[2], 66.2E |
| Entrance Identification Sign (Multiple Businesses per Lot) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | Flush against building at main entrance | — | § 205-66.2D(1)(b)[1] |
| Multiple Occupancy and Tenancy (MOT) Sign (Multiple Businesses per Lot, Common Parking/Driveway) | 20 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 | At subject entrance | — | § 205-66.2D(1)(b)[3] |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | — | — | May extend 6 ft outward | — | — | Over door or window | — | § 205-66.2D(1)(b)[4] |
| Billboard | 25 ft | 200 sq ft | — | At least 40 ft from any side/rear property line; at least 200 ft from residential use or zone and from another billboard | 1 per lot | Lot with no other use, initially assessed as vacant/farm; must be at least 40 ft from any side/rear property line; not interfere w/sight triangles per DOT regs. | — | § 205-66.2D(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Maple Shade Township

- Billboards are prohibited in all zoning districts except for one per lot in the BD Business Development District.
- Advertising signs attached to or painted on trees, fences, utility poles, rocks, water towers, benches, or bridges are prohibited, except on fences at Township athletic fields.
- Painted wall signs or murals are prohibited.
- Any sign which, applying contemporary community standards, has a dominant theme or purpose of appealing to prurient interests is prohibited.
- Banners are prohibited except as specifically permitted.
- Pennants, streamers, or balloons are prohibited except under certain temporary conditions as permitted.
- Signs on regularly parked or located vehicles in such a way as to be used or considered as a sign are prohibited.
- Signs on roofs are prohibited.
- Signs containing flashers, animators, movable reflectors, mechanical movements, or contrivances are prohibited; nonflashing time and/or temperature and LED signs are allowed only if there is no flashing, animation, movable reflectors, mechanical movements, or contrivances.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited except temporary special event signs and certain billboards as provided.
- Outdoor portable or mobile signs advertising the sale of products or services are prohibited except for defined sidewalk signs.
- No sign may be located so as to obscure sight lines at intersections.
- No sign shall be permitted to exhibit chipped or peeling paint or lettering; damaged or broken lettering or signboard; illegible material due to fading, obliteration, or other condition; or a dirty, torn, broken, or otherwise damaged awning, canopy, projecting sign, or other sign-support structure.
- No sign shall be erected, enlarged, rebuilt, structurally altered or relocated until a zoning and construction permit has been issued, except as otherwise permitted.
- If a business ceases operation for more than 60 days, signage identifying it or its products must be removed.
- Existing nonconforming signs lose their nonconforming status and must be brought into conformity or removed if altered, upon change in use, new certificate of occupancy, change of business license or tenancy, or removal/abandonment of the sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Maple Shade Township

- Official traffic signs.
- Real estate signs that are not illuminated, pertain only to the lease or sale of the property on which they stand, do not exceed 12 square feet (or 6 in residential zones), and are removed within 7 days of closing, settlement, or lease execution.
- Temporary construction and artisans' signs may be erected on the site during construction, do not exceed 12 square feet (6 in residential zones), and are removed within 1 week of job completion or 6 months, whichever is sooner.
- Signs required by legal process, such as building permits, quarantines, condemnations, and legal notices.
- Warning and no trespassing signs (and those indicating private property) not exceeding 3 square feet, not illuminated, and maintained in proper condition.
- Identification signs for schools, churches, hospitals, clubs, lodges or similar uses not exceeding 12 square feet; residential properties may have one identification sign not exceeding 1 square foot.
- Temporary window signs for sales or special merchandise, provided no sign stays up more than 30 days and total signs do not exceed 40% of window area.
- Political signs/posters allowed one month prior to an election, must be removed within 7 days after, do not exceed 16 square feet, and only one sign per lot (two on corner lots).
- Temporary special event signs: (a) street-wide banners if Town Council approved; (b) garage/yard sale signs (not over 1 square foot, up for a week before and taken down day after event); (c) event/fair/auction/etc. signs (not over 12 square feet, up to 1 month before and removed within 7 days after, one per lot at a time).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs (unless specifically exempted) require a zoning permit by the Zoning Officer and a construction permit from the Construction Official before erection, enlargement, rebuilding, structural alteration, or relocation.
- Applications for sign permits must include plans showing sign area, size and characters, method of illumination, exact location, and other details as requested by officials.
- Architectural plans signed and sealed by a licensed architect may be required at the discretion of the Township Building Inspector.
- All new businesses must apply for a sign permit for all new and existing signs, whether any sign is to be changed or not.
- Denial of a sign permit may be appealed by applying for a variance to the appropriate Township board.
- If a sign is found to be in violation and notice is given, the sign owner may apply for a sign variance.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 7 zoning districts in Maple Shade Township — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Maple+Shade+Township+NJ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-maple-shade-township

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